Water thieves attack irrigation dept officials
Irrigation department officials seek police protection against assailants. photo express
At least five people, including a landlord, allegedly opened fire on the officials of the Punjab Irrigation Department for refusing to let them steal water from the government-owned channel on Thursday.
First account of the officials to the cops reveals that they tried to escape the area to save their lives but were caught by the landlord’s employees and beaten.
Police have registered a case against the suspects and started raiding on tip-offs to arrest them.
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A position has been taken in the case filed by Sub Divisional Officer (SDO) of Irrigation Department Muhammad Afzal, son of Anwar, that in 124RB Lahoriyan the suspect Usman Ahsan alias Shani had stolen water by inserting a pipe about one foot into the canal.
He revealed that to stop the suspects from stealing water, XEN Hafizabad Division Rana Kashif Ali and Engineer Muhammad Waseem went on a government vehicle to site where they forbade the accused from thieving water.
“In response, the landowners and the employees got frustrated, grabbed them while they tried to flee from their attack, and then assaulted them,” the Sub-Divisional Officer added.
“They also opened fire and damaged the government owned vehicle during the attack.”
Sources said panic and fear spread throughout the area and police rushed to the spot on information.
On seeing the cops arriving on the scene, the assailants fled through the field to avoid arrest.
Sahianwala police registered case no 476 against the named suspects under provisions 324-353-186-148-149 of the constitution as well as The Canal and Drainage Act of 1873.
The Canal and Drainage Act grants power to the person in-charge of the canal to arrest a person found obstructing the canal and produce him before a magistrate or take him to the nearest police station.
The wilful damage of the canal may also lead to imprisonment up to one year and fine of Rs15,000 or both.
The police are raiding the area to apprehend the suspects involved in water theft and violence against irrigation department staffers.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 10th, 2021.